While driving in Yuma, Arizona on May 16th 2023, I saw what appeared to be a larger male assaulting a much smaller individual. Upon further analysis I realized a police officer was struggling with an unarmed, nonviolent suspect undergoing a possible mental health crisis. Watching the officer aggressively detain this man, I pulled over into a parking lot and approached the scene filming with my cellphone.

The officer made no attempt to calm the suspect. I continued filming from a safe distance of around 10 feet away, documenting with my iPhone’s zoom lens, as additional officers arrived. Knowing not to impede the detention, I positioned myself on the far side of the fence. Without attempting to deescalate, an officer retrieved a small baton and began bending it against the suspect’s leg. I was very concerned these officers were going to break this man’s leg. That officer saw me filming through the fence and yelled “get that guy”. As I was already backing up, suddenly another officer charged, shoving me to the ground, tearing my ACL and immediately causing my knees to bleed.

Now injured, I struggled to my feet, asking the officer who had assaulted me for his name and badge number. The officer turned around and violently placed me under arrest, a clear and blatant retaliatory violation of my civil rights as both a journalist and civilian allowed to freely document on public property in a nonobstructive manner. I was illegally cited for failure to obey a city official and resisting arrest.
I didn’t resist in any way, even as he attempted to lift me offtheground by bending my arm upwards behind my back, a move that could have easily dislocated my shoulder.

The City of Yuma Government prosecutor's office first plea bargain offer was for me to serve over a month in jail and plead guilty to the charges. After they reviewed the footage, the prosecutor’s office revised their offer to a deferred prosecution while demanding I pay a $500 fine and serve a probationary period.

After reviewing court records, my legal team noted the original suspect was an unhoused man who had been outside seeking shelter from 100 degree temperatures.

During the deposition of the officers, it was revealed the Yuma Police Department lacks any official policy or training for how to interact with journalists or what to do while being filmed. After extensive work with two legal teams and a police use of force expert, we’ve identified Yuma Police Department’s lack of proper training makes them negligent in this violent attack upon a journalist exercising their First Amendment rights.
I’m Lucas Mullikin, an Arizona resident since 2007. A journalist and filmmaker working diligently to expose wrongdoings.

I film with the US State Department, NBC News, Al Jazeera, Business Insider, CNBC and many others. Reporting from thirdworld refugee camps to warzones filming disease outbreaks, climate change, corruption, corporate abuses and social unrest. I chose to record that day in Yuma because I have an ethical and journalistic imperative to document injustices.

If you or someone you know have suffered abuse or civil rights violations at the hands of the Yuma Police Department, or if your legal right to film the police in Yuma has been obstructed, please contact us. We are actively compiling a list of incidents and taking depositions. I’ve filed a complaint with the US Department of Justice which inturn has launched a Civil Rights investigation into the Yuma Police Department.

With your awareness and support, this unfortunate situation can be the catalyst for positive change and accountability here in Yuma.

Lucas Mullikin
(928)2555131
[email protected]